The Scripps
College Press Collection contains academic records,
administrative records, correspondence, financial material,
and publications and printings created since the press’
inception. The collection covers the years 1941 to 2004 with
the bulk of the material ranging from 1941 to 1985.

Background

The Scripps College Press, originally named the Hartley Burr
Alexander Press in honor of the Scripps philosophy professor
(1927-1939), was established in 1941. The Class of 1941
instigated its establishment by donating the press as part
of their class gift. They also managed to convince Frederick
W. Goudy, renowned type designer, to create a unique type
for exclusive use by the Press. Catherine Coffin Phillips,
author, printer, and grandmother of one of the graduating
seniors, Pat Morrison, agreed to underwrite the cost
($500.00) of Goudy designing a typeface for the colleges
use. This was an excellent coup by the graduating class
considering Goudy had previously designed a type for the
University of California for which he had charged $10,000.
Now the Class of 1941 needed to locate a press. In response,
Los Angeles printer Ward Ritchie generously donated his
Washington hand press upon which to print, and room was made
in the basement of the art building. In September of 1941,
Goudy returned to the campus to dedicate the first use of
the type.

Restrictions

All requests for permission to publish must be submitted
in writing to Denison Library.

Availability

This collection is open for research with permission from
Ella Strong Denison Library staff.